Lisa is one of the very few women classical guitarists on
the international concert stage to-day. Originally from the arts colony of
Arden, Delaware, Lisa began her studies at the Settlement Music School in
Philadelphia.
She left junior high school after receiving a scholarship to study with Andrés Segovia at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena, Italy. She remained his scholarship student for the next five seasons. After attending the Mannes College of Music, she furthered her musical Studies on full scholarship at the Juillard School with Oscar Ghiglia and Suzanne Bloch. She continued her education earning a degree in psychology magna cum laude from the University of Maryland.
Touring extensively in the United States, Europe, South America and the Far East, she has participated in such prestigious events as the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado and the Inter-American Music Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Lisa records with Klavier records.She is known both as a soloist and chamber musician touring with members of the Lincoln Center Chamber Orchestra and principal flutist of the New York City Opera, John Wion. She also has toured with Kao Yu mei, Taiwan’s finest Pipa player. She was chosen to give the opening concert in honor of Segovia's 100th birthday in his home town of Linares, Spain.
She left junior high school after receiving a scholarship to study with Andrés Segovia at the Accademia Chigiana in Siena, Italy. She remained his scholarship student for the next five seasons. After attending the Mannes College of Music, she furthered her musical Studies on full scholarship at the Juillard School with Oscar Ghiglia and Suzanne Bloch. She continued her education earning a degree in psychology magna cum laude from the University of Maryland.
Touring extensively in the United States, Europe, South America and the Far East, she has participated in such prestigious events as the Aspen Music Festival in Colorado and the Inter-American Music Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. Lisa records with Klavier records.She is known both as a soloist and chamber musician touring with members of the Lincoln Center Chamber Orchestra and principal flutist of the New York City Opera, John Wion. She also has toured with Kao Yu mei, Taiwan’s finest Pipa player. She was chosen to give the opening concert in honor of Segovia's 100th birthday in his home town of Linares, Spain.
Her late
husband, Stephen Kates was a world renown cellist who performed with the major
symphonies of the world mixing with the likes of Leonard Berstein, Daniell
Barenboim and Isaac Perlman. Her second husband was a US. Diplomat, Sydney
Goldsmith who was considered one of the top authorities on Taiwan in the US.
Government. He also played the Flute. Lisa and Syd toured worldwide in Asia,
Europe and all the countries of South America except el Salvador and Nicaragua.
Lisa has taught guitar at the Peabody School of Music in Baltimore, the University of Nebraska, Denison University in Ohio and the United States International University in San Diego. She currently organizes master classes in flamenco and classical guitar in Granada.
When not performing, Lisa is an equestrian and arts consultant. Fluent in both Chinese and Spanish she often serves as an international link to the guitar world. She has lived in Granada, Spain since 1988 where her house has turned into an international center for the guitar, its players and makers.
Lisa has taught guitar at the Peabody School of Music in Baltimore, the University of Nebraska, Denison University in Ohio and the United States International University in San Diego. She currently organizes master classes in flamenco and classical guitar in Granada.
When not performing, Lisa is an equestrian and arts consultant. Fluent in both Chinese and Spanish she often serves as an international link to the guitar world. She has lived in Granada, Spain since 1988 where her house has turned into an international center for the guitar, its players and makers.
Since 2008 Lisa has
been working in the Equestrian Industry in China. She was the first person to
export Spanish Horses to China since the Spaniards came to China via the silk
route. She has been the advisor to the Heilan Equestrian Club since its
beginning. At present she has been the biggest exporter of horses from the
Americas and Europe to China She has helped hire blacksmiths, trainers,
veterinarians and procure all the products necessary for the operation of the
club She has also been the principle translator and negotiator of the contracts
for hiring.. Many of the Chinese students were flown to Europe and Lisa oversaw their education and training in both
Spain and Holland. The club now operates successfully on its owns and only
calls her in when they have a major problem they are not able to solve
themselves.
Lisa grew up in the
Pennsylvania- Delaware hunt country on the east coast of the United States. She
has been riding since she was four years old. She is a judge as well as has
trained and cared for all her own
horses. She studied Horse Husbandry at the University. She studied riding not
only in her own area but at the first dressage stable in the United States run
by Helen Asmis the daughter of German general.
In Spain she has been the personal representative of Spain
foremost Spanish Horse judge Juan Llamas and has traveled worldwide translating
for him and promoting the purebred Spanish Horse. She has collaborated with
most of the international Spanish Horse associations worldwide from Australian
to England to the United States. Working with the Spanish Department of
defense, Lisa has traveled all over helping register all the spanish horses in
the Spanish stud book. She has helped promote clinics about the Spanish horse
conformation and history. She has also promoted the best trainer of the Spanish
Horse, Mercedes Gonzalez Cort who was the first instructor at the Spanish
riding school in Jerez and the First woman to be accepted into the Spanish
Riding School in Vienna.
Lisa has united the art of music and horses as well as her
international experience into a dynamic force promoting the horse in all its
beauty worldwide.
My Latest CD: Concierto Para Mi Caballo
This is my latest CD and includes a variety of classical guitar pieces that are perfect for you or for your horse. My CD has been played at horse shows around the world (where it is tradition to play classical guitar music) and has become quite popular with horse and guitar lovers. It includes compositions by Bach, Fernando Sor, Mauro Giuliani, Francisco Tarrega, Joaquin Turina and much more!
The mp3-player plays a selection of tracks. The music is played at Spanish horse shows around the world where it is tradition to play classical and flamenco guitar music.
My Products
My personal products developed by me and my friends are Lisa Strings, Lisa Tap Plates and my Emergency Nail Filing Kit. Besides my own products, I often procure things for people both in the guitar industry and the equestrian industry.
In the horse Industry we have exported everything worldwide from China to the US and back such as veterinary supplies, saddles, containers of carriages or anything you can think of. I’ve even purchased dental equipment for horses. As my grandfather was not only a pianist but a dentist, I thought it was quite appropriate.
I’ve hired teachers in guitar and the equestrian arts as well as veterinarians and guitar makers to give courses all over the world. Whatever your imagination can think of in these two disciplines I try to find it and get it for you.
